He net aitken



H. AITKEN. TRBATING IRON ORE, gw.'

No. 82,576. Patented Sept. 29, 1.868.A

niten fte/tra y @stent @ffies Letters .Pafent No'. 82,576, datedSeptember 29, 1868.

IMPnovnMNT IN rasta-Ine masones, et.

.tte flphuls nfrrrei tu in ttm etim Extent mit mating gud nf .tige same.

' TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Be it known that I, HENRY AITKEN, of Falkirk, Stirling county, Scotland,have invented an Improvement in Treating Iron-Oren, tc.; and Ido herebydeclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of thesame. I

My invention consists in subjecting ironoresand iron-jstone, during theprocess ofcokingytothe treatment fully described hereafter, so as toutilize the volatile portions of the material, and obtain a better andmore available product at less expense than by the ordinary processes.

In order to enable others skilled in the art to practise my invention, Iwill now proceed to describe the manner of carrying it into effect,reference being had to the accompanying drawing, which forms a part ofthis specification, andin which- Figure 1`is a sectional elevation ofone form of apparatus which may be employed in carrying out my,invention. i

'Figure 2, a section on the line 1 2, 1; and,

Figure 3 a plan view of part of the apparatus. l

A is a platform, upon which the iron-ores or iron-stones are placed, andB perforations, through which Vthe lieutand products of combustion aredrawn downward into the ues C, through which they pass to thecondensing-pipes D, by means of the action of the steam-jet issuingthrough the nozzle H, these pipes D being connected with suitablevessels, whereintthe conden'sable matters are collected and preservedVfor use.

E is an iron arched covering, the inside' of which may be lined withfire-bricks, or other 'suitable materials, as sbownin figs. 1 and 2. Thearched covering E is carried upon wheels or rollers a, iig. 1, and showndotted on iig. 2, so that, when the heap or layers of iron-ores oriron-stones are built or laid up'on the platform A, it is covered by thearched covering E, which is run along the rails xed on the side walls Bythis means, any convenient size of heap may be formed, as the archedcovering is, by preference, made in sections, and each of which is runalong the rails. b, and placed close to each other, until the heap iscover;f.

The viron-ores or iron-stones may be fired or ignited .on the top, andthe'cov'er E run over the heap, the heat or gases being drawn down, asaboveand hereinafter described. i l

To prevent danger from explosions, er a high pressure of gas, which mayoccurduring the carbonizing of the iron-orcs or iron-stones, part of theend, G, which encloses the arched covering E, is hinged, as shown at e,iig. 2, so' that it may be blown open, and the explosive orhigh-pressure gases may escape b efore'tbey have collected to a.dangerous extent.. I l

Holes D are formed in the arched covering E, -to adinit'air to the heapafter it is fired.

'To facilitate the condensing and collecting of the condensable mattersduring thecarbonizing of the ironores or iron-stones, water may becaused to owl'through the HuesfCand the pipes D. Steam and water may bealso injected among the iron-ores or iron-stones, from time to time,while combustion is going on, to facilitate the condensation of thegases, and, towards the end of the process, steam and water may again beadmitted, -for the purpose of facilitating the separation of the sulphurand salt, or sal.'l water may be admitted to'render what sulphur remainsharmless. The gases which are not condensed escape by pipe D to achimney or re-grate, not shown in the drawings, or the exhausting of thegases is maintained by any exhausting or forcing-apparatus or means. l

When the coking or cafrbonizing-process is Afinished, the archedcovering may be runoff on the rails b, and

the iron-ores or iron-stones may be removed, or reduced at once tomalleable iron, steel, or pig-iron, or the cover may be ke'pt o ,and theiron-ores or iron-stones may be cooled, and watered out under it,andthen removed, after which they maybe reduced by the blast-furnace intopig-iron, or they may be reduced into pig-iron, steel, or malleableiron, in kilns, ovens, or'ainfurnnces. i

In lieu of using a steam-jet or chimney for exhausting the gaseousmatter, as hereinbefore set forth, ajet of air at high pressure may beemployed,by-connecting the nozzle with a reservoir in which the air iscompressed. This air in expanding, on escaping through the nozzle, willreduce the'temperature of the condenser to the requisite degree, at thesame time producing the necessary amount of draught.

I may further explain that when carbonizing iron-ores or iron-stones,which are not rich in earbonaceous matter, to facilitate and quicken,the time for carbonizing them. a portion of other carbonaceous orhydrocarbonaceous matter,f such as coal, dross, or oil may he mixed withthe charge, and the two being treated together,- besides diminishing theperiod of carbonization, produce a carbonized material, which,containing a larger proportion ofgcarbonaceous matter than is naturallycombined with it, less fuel for after reduction is requisite.

In the cases of iron-ores or iron-stones which become soft or friable bycarbonization, the mass may be hardened by pouring crude hydrocarbon-oilor tar over it when at a high heat.

The materials to be carbonized maybe placed on a frame or platformcarried upon wheels, or on revolving plates or platforms, .suchplatforms or plates being arranged .to traverse on rails or trams, thatthey may be run under an arched covering or kiln,`and therein coked orcarbonized, or the process may be made continuous by feeding the rawiron-ore or iron-stone-in at one end of the kiln, retort, oven, orarched covering, and, as it is coked or earbonzed, drawing it out at theopposite end, the gases and oils being utilized or collected ashereinb'efore described. i

I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1,Coking iron-stone or iron-ore upon a perforated platform, through theopenings in which, and through the mass of stone or ore, the gaseousproducts of the coking-operation are drawnl downward, for the purpose 2.Utilizing the gaseous products of the coking of iron-stone er ore,substantially as specified.

3. The coking or'carbonizing of iron-ores or iron-stones, in combinationwith carbonaceous or hydrocar bonaceous matter.

4. The 'employment of crude oil or tar, or oily nr tarry matter, forhardening eoked or carbonized ironf ores or iron-stones.'

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification inpresence of the two subscribing witnesses.

HENRY AITKEN.'

Witnesses:

S'r. JOHN VINEMDAZ, JO'HN BROWN.

